The arrival of human flight’s future was uneventful during a time of minimal flying in June 2020 when COVID-19 was rampant all over the world. Despite the empty skies, a significant development was taking place on the ground in a small aircraft.
The Slovenian-built two-seater plane was certified safe to fly by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency). In the following years, it obtained certifications from equivalent agencies in the UK, US, and other countries. The Pipistrel Velis Electro became the world’s first fully certified electric airplane, a title it still holds today.
“This achievement showcases the growing interest and trust in electric aircraft’s reliability.” Dr. Tine Tomajic“We recently completed production of our 100th Velis Electro, a significant milestone for Pipistrel and the industry,” saidTomajic, Director of Engineering and Programs at Pipistrel.
Tomajic believes the future is already here but not equally distributed, with a focus on the development of clean aircraft. However, challenges remain regarding the alternative fuels needed for aviation and the political will required to make significant changes.
With multiple groundings behind us, could this be the turning point for green air travel, or do we still have a long way to go before achieving zero-emission flights?
Climate impacts
“Currently, aviation has a minimal impact on climate change.” Dr. Guy GluttonGratton, an associate professor at Cranfield University, is an aeronautical engineer and test pilot for experimental electric aircraft. He states that aviation contributes about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, with growing concerns about contrail emissions potentially reaching 7%.
The industry has made progress in reducing emissions per passenger mile, but the overall emissions are still rising at a rate of 5% annually. With global air travel demand expected to double by 2040, aviation risks becoming a significant polluter unless drastic measures are taken.
To address the challenges, various alternatives are being explored, including electric aircraft like the Velis Electro for short-haul flights and hydrogen fuel cells for larger planes.
More electric planes are set to take flight following the success of the Velis Electro. Companies like Israeli Aviation, Elysian Aircraft, and Wright Electric are working on developing larger electric aircraft to meet the future demands of air travel.
Gratton, who actively tests electric planes, remains cautious about considering battery-powered planes as a complete solution to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint. He emphasizes the importance of exploring various alternative fuels to address the industry’s growing emissions.
Alternative Fuel Test Flights
How will we power net-zero flights in the future using alternative fuels like biofuels, electric fuel, electric fuel cells, and hydrogen fuel cells?
Biofuels: Biofuels could be blended with traditional jet fuel to reduce emissions, but concerns about land use and deforestation remain.
Electric Fuel: Derived from atmospheric carbon and hydrogen, electric fuel is promising but requires significant renewable energy for production.
Electric Fuel Cell: Offers zero emissions during flight, but the technology needs further development and scalability.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell: Seen as a medium-term solution for decarbonizing aviation, but requires infrastructure redesign for effective implementation.
About our experts
Dr. Tine Tomajic: Director of Engineering and Programs at Pipistrel, an expert in electric flight.
Dr. Guy Glutton: Associate professor at Cranfield University, specializing in aviation environmental sciences and experimental electric aircraft testing.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
